KEDAH Padang Serai , or lemongrass field, a little town tucked away in the  southern part of Kedah, is abuzz with the presence of five election candidates vying for the mixed parliamentary seat.

The sleepy hollow,  surrounded by oil palm plantations and the nearby Kulim High-tech Industrial Zone has 56 percent Malay, 23 percent Indians and 12 percent Chinese voters.

Located within the Kulim district, the constituency has seen its share of ‘political frogs’, a term used for politicians who quit their parties to join others or to become BN- or Pakatan Rakyat- friendly MPs or state assemblypersons.

NONE When he goes on his daily walkabouts, PKR candidate N Surendran is often confronted with a repeated concern: “If we vote for you, will you become a frog?"

"I have had to assure them as I shake their hands and speak to them that I will not become a frog," Surendran told Malaysiakini when met yesterday in Merbok Pulas, some 57km from Penang.

"I don’t blame them as PKR representatives from two parliamentary seats, Padang Serai (N Gobalakrishnan) and Kulim Bandar Baharu (Zulkifli Noordin) and the Lunas state seat (Mohd Radzhi Salleh), had quit the party to become Independents.”

Surendran, a well-known human rights lawyer, is confident of his chances in the polls on May 5, saying that the response from the public has been very positive.

On one of his campaign trails in Merbau Pulas, residents of all races were observed warming up to him, reaching out to shake his hand, with several even calling out his name and saying "I will vote for you".

Surendran, who is from Alor Setar, was offered drinks and food, and a businessman presented him with a computer printer.

One of his staff amused by this, saying: "Other candidates have to buy food and drinks for their voters, in this case, they are giving it to him free of charge.”

Surendran, who has been familiarising himself with the constituency for a year now, has pledged to look into problems of poverty and lack of education, especially among single mothers and their children.

“Frankly, they have had so many promises unfulfilled that they are fed up,” he noted.

NONE Surendran faces a tough fight against Wanita MCA vice-chairperson Heng Seai Kie (right) , Berjasa’s Hamidi Abu Hassan, as well as Independents Othman Wawi and Gobalakrishnan, the incumbent.

Hie, a former deputy minister, is determine to recapture Padang Serai, a BN stronghold prior to 2008.

“After five years, the people will be able to tell the difference in the commitment given by BN representatives compared to (Pakatan Rakyat),” Heng, a first-time candidate, was quoted as saying in Star .

'Allow me to serve you’

Gobalakrishnan, who had resigned from PKR in 2010 citing loss of faith in the party’s leadership, had won the seat with a majority of 11,738 against MCA’s  Boey Chin Gan in 2008.

He was seen campaigning at the Labu Besar evening market, with an entourage of young party workers sporting red shirts and handing out leaflets to traders and shoppers.

NONE Gobalakrishnan (left) , a former MIC leader, walked through the market giving a “mobile ceramah” with his wife Vasanthi Ramalingam, who is contesting the Lunas seat in a four-corner fight.

“I have built a home for Ramli Jaafar, who was a candidate in the 12th general election. He is kind, honest, trustworthy and caring, and we pray that his family lives in peace in his new home,”

Gobalakrishnan said as he distributed flyers  with his hibiscus symbol.

“I have carried out about 300 activities since I became MP five years ago. Allow me to serve you again.”

While many traders received him with a smile, with several coming up to shake his hand, most went about their business and shopping as if unaware of his presence. At least two vendors shooed him away, saying “No, we don’t want frogs.”

At one point, several young men shouted at him, asking him to leave the premises, and a young trader, who was merely in his teens, shouted “Ini Kalilah! Ini Kalilah ke Putrajaya!” (This time! This time to Putrajaya!)

NONE But Gobalakrishnan pressed on calmly, noting that “such actions by PKR gangsters do not bother me as everyone has the right to democracy”.

When reminded that voters are unhappy about his status, Gobalakrishnan explained that he had to quit PKR as its leaders had failed to live up to their promises and had “manipulated” the party polls.

“Whenever I raised issues or ask questions within the party, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim challenged me to leave,” he said.

Gobalakrishnan said he is neither BN- or Pakatan-friendly, and that he is satisfied with his campaign thus far because even Chinese voters - who are most likely throw their support behind Pakatan - had “shockingly” responded well to him.

Residents want visible MP

Residents interviewed said they are not in favour of Independent candidates, saying voters are not used to their presence in the election process.

NONE They also complained that Gobalakrishnan has not helped them resolve their difficulties.

Sulaiman Awang, 64, who owns a tailoring shop in Taman Mutiara, said Gobalakrishnan has only visited the area once.

“I belong to the Kulim ex-police officers association. We used to sell things at the night market nearby but the local authority disrupted our business and took over the management (of the area),” said Sulaiman ( left) , who heads the body.

“We run businesses so that we can collect funds for the welfare of our 1,000 members. I’m really angry that we have been stopped from doing this and that nobody wants to help us.”

NONE Tamilselvi Rayapan, 30, said she would vote for the candidate who can go to the ground and speak up for the people in Parliament.

“I’ve only seen Gobalakrishnan on TV and at a function. Up to now, I also have not seen the BN candidate,” added the homemaker.

Koh Bee Teik, a 24-year old cashier from Kulim, said he would “follow the trend” , adding he will most likely vote for Pakatan.

“This is my first time voting, but the BN has been around for many years, and there have been many negative issues in the media, so perhaps it is better to change,” he explained.

But M Muniandy, who is in his 50s, said he prefers the middle path, saying with a smile: “Both sides have done things for us, both are my friends, so we will consider them. My vote is a secret.”

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